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Quinn asked for slating session

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Illinois

* I told subscribers yesterday that Gov. Pat Quinn had asked for a state party slating session. It appears this time around, though, that Bill Daley’s campaign will try to deny Quinn the award. The governor will need 60 percent to get the slating, and there are some Democrats who think he might be stopped, but others who say Quinn wouldn’t have asked for the session if he didn’t firmly believe he’d win. If he is denied the slating, that’ll be a huge embarrassment. If he gets it, then I’m not sure it means a whole lot, except to show party members that he’s one of them…

Illinois’ top Democrats will gather for their first formal primary election endorsement session in nearly a decade this month amid expectations they will back Gov. Pat Quinn for re-election against rival Bill Daley.

On Thursday, House Speaker Michael Madigan, the state’s Democratic chairman, announced a slating session for Sept. 22 in Springfield. The race for governor is the only statewide battle being contested by major candidates in the March 18 primary.

Steve Brown, Madigan’s spokesman, said the decision to call the endorsement session was made after a request by Quinn. That indicates Quinn believes he has enough support among the 38 members of the Democratic State Central Committee to capture the endorsement.

Quinn campaign aides were not available for comment. Tom Bowen, Daley’s campaign manager, said the Democratic challenger would reach out to members of the committee to urge them to support an open primary in which no endorsement is made.

Discuss.

posted by Rich Miller
Friday, Sep 13, 13 @ 9:45 am

Comments

It would be pretty goofy to ask for the session if he didn’t have the horses. Not much upside/big downside.

Comment by wordslinger Friday, Sep 13, 13 @ 9:58 am
I agree that he must think he has the votes, but I keep remembering that he thought the votes were there on marriage equality too.

Comment by Ann Friday, Sep 13, 13 @ 10:16 am
I agree, and I can’t understand why Daley - Bowen are making such a big deal of it. Does it matter that much anymore?

This is 2013, not 1972.

Comment by Iow level Friday, Sep 13, 13 @ 10:19 am
Word says: “it would be pretty goofy”

Uh Oh!

Comment by walkinfool Friday, Sep 13, 13 @ 10:31 am
“Goofy is as goofy does”

Comment by Trudat Friday, Sep 13, 13 @ 10:36 am
Quinn was always one of the antiestablishmentarians. I’m not sure when, exactly, he left us proles but we are in need of a new leader. Thank goodness Billy Daley is there to carry our flag.

Comment by Phineas J. Whoopee Friday, Sep 13, 13 @ 11:03 am
Rich is right. Quinn has the votes and then some. I actually think that Bill Daley might be one of the most qualified people to run for governor, but that is meaningless in elective politics. I am looking forward to following this race, but Quinn is far ahead and I don’t think can be caught. The general election could be, check that, will be, trouble for Quinn and I think Daley has the best chance there.

Comment by MrGrassroots Friday, Sep 13, 13 @ 11:09 am
===ce, but Quinn is far ahead and I don’t think can be caught===

A six-year Democratic incumbent polling in the 30s with members of his own party is not “far ahead” of anybody.

Comment by Rich Miller Friday, Sep 13, 13 @ 11:11 am
I echo Ann’s comment.

Comment by Tom B. Friday, Sep 13, 13 @ 11:18 am
Certainly correct in your observation about PQ’s polling.

I think the “far ahead” refers more to the fact that both candidates are known and defined to Democratic primary voters and that its just very very difficult to see a path to victory for Daley as you have discussed previously. In fact, I can see some strongly motivated anti Daley voters. Which is fascinating, because with just about any other candidate I could picture very strong anti- Quinn voters.
Of course, this is politics and things can change instantaneously.

I find myself in the unique situation of no matter which way I vote, I’ll be holding my nose. I’ll be holding it so strongly, in fact, that I may need to use both hands and might require assistance from one of the workers at the polls to actually cast a vote. The whole thing is depressing.

Comment by Iow level Friday, Sep 13, 13 @ 11:28 am
I don’t see Bill Daley’s path to beating Quinn.

Comment by MrGrassroots Friday, Sep 13, 13 @ 11:30 am
If Quinn believed in direct mail, it would mean a whole lot if he wins the endorsement. He could mail at the discounted party postage rate saving himself mucho dinero.

Comment by Tom Friday, Sep 13, 13 @ 11:55 am
Are they meeting to slate candidates or to discuss slating candidates? In MM world, those may be two distinctly different purposes.

Comment by DanL60 Friday, Sep 13, 13 @ 12:23 pm
Tom- good point, but let me ask you: in a large level race like Governor, where people are paying attention, does direct mail work as it does in legislative and other lower ticket races?

Comment by Iow level Friday, Sep 13, 13 @ 1:49 pm
Where is this Quinn would only do this if he has the votes nonsense coming from? The man can’t count votes, we already know this. He’s just trying to make it look like the party is behind him and paint Daley as a troublemaker. Since ‘the people’ elect committeeman who elect the leaders, any slating makes Quinn have the backing of ‘the people’ even if he really does not or will not come election day.

Comment by Precinct Captain Friday, Sep 13, 13 @ 2:18 pm
I can’t imagine the legislators who aren’t getting paid will be all that thrilled to slate Quinn.

Comment by thechampaignlife Friday, Sep 13, 13 @ 2:45 pm
I agree PQ must think he has the votes, but if there’s one thing we’ve learned over six years, it’s that he’s not exactly a math whiz when it comes to counting noses. And perhaps, just perhaps, rather than scheduling this as a slap to Daley, MJM knows where the votes are - I guarantee he roll called the Committeemen and women before calling the session - and he wants to embarrass PQ yet again.

I also agree that Daley’s path to victory is murky as well, but a further weakened chief has never really been a bad thing for the guy from the 13th wars.

Comment by Joe Bidenopolous Friday, Sep 13, 13 @ 2:46 pm
=He could mail at the discounted party postage rate saving himself mucho dinero.=

Only if the Chairman lets him…

Comment by Joe Bidenopolous Friday, Sep 13, 13 @ 2:47 pm
===He could mail at the discounted party postage rate saving himself mucho dinero===

PQ doesn’t do direct mail

Comment by Rich Miller Friday, Sep 13, 13 @ 2:58 pm
I’m going to ask a silly question that everyone here probably knows the answer to, unfortunately, I do not… What exactly does MJM gain by trying to embarrass the Governor? What’s the point?

Comment by Political Neophyte Friday, Sep 13, 13 @ 3:50 pm